Pakistani Premier Forms Group to Start Talks With Taliban

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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif named a four-member commission on Wednesday to initiate peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, saying he would pursue a dialogue with the militants despite recent terrorist attacks that have left the country reeling.

“As the desire for peace has been expressed on the other side, we want to forget the unpleasant past and give another chance to peaceful talks,” Mr. Sharif said in a speech to Parliament in Islamabad, the capital.

He urged the militants to stop their attacks during the peace process but offered no specifics about the talks.

The Pakistani Taliban said that its leadership would discuss Mr. Sharif’s proposal in a meeting in the next few days.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/world/asia/pakistani-premier-forms-group-to-start-talks-with-taliban.html

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1. Negotiations with TTP an internal matter of Pakistan: US

Washington: The United States has said that Pakistan's negotiations with the Taliban are its internal matter and reiterated its support to Islamabad's efforts to counter extremism.

"The issue of whether to negotiate with TTP is an internal matter for Pakistan," a State Department spokesperson told a news agency on Wednesday when asked about Pak PM Nawaz Sharif's announcement to pursue peace talks with Taliban.

"We support Pakistan's efforts to counter violent extremism, including its efforts to decrease the threat posed by groups like the TTP and others," the spokesperson said.

"More broadly, the United States and Pakistan continue to have a vital, shared strategic interest in ending extremist violence so as to build a more prosperous, stable, and peaceful region," said the spokesperson.

http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/negotiations-with-ttp-an-internal-matter-of-pakistan-us_907811.html